Friday Favorites

Make Ahead Freezer Smoothies - great tip for making it even easier to make smoothies when mornings are rushed but you want to stay healthy for breakfast

40 bags in 40 days - I am linking to her list. But there is a link to her original post of decluttering by just making a list of 40 places/spaces that need decluttering and doing on place each day. And it isn't rooms mind you - it is draws and toy boxes. Might make it easier by breaking it down into a list or challenge.

How to Cover up Dings in Wooden Furniture - with a walnut? really? I wonder if it works. Please if someone does this let me know how it goes.

Under the Sink Storage Trays - how to build under the sink storage trays

How to store Vegetables and Fruit without Plastic Bags - this site tells you how to be more eco-friendly and not using plastic bags to store your fruits and vegetables

Seasoned Corn on the Cob

Corn on the Cob - freshly cooked
Butter
Seasonings
Ziplock Bag



Place several pats of butter and seasonings in a ziplock bag. I put almost a pat of butter per ear of corn. And it is just to taste on the seasonings but I probably start with a tablespoon of my main seasoning. After husks are removed and corn is cooked, place hot corn into ziplock with butter and seasonings. Let the hot corn sit there for a moment to get the butter melting and then start move it around in the ziplock to incorporate the seasoning over the corn.

I used Northwood Seasonings by Penzeys which has coarse flake salt, paprika, black pepper, thyme, rosemary, garlic and chipotle. But I have also used Italian seasonings and just garlic. You really can just add so many different seasonings to spice up your corn on the cob.

Friday Favorites

Specialty Bottle - I found this site and was really happy. I have been searching for a gallon jar without a spout for a while. And it is hard to find a gallon. Find half gallon or smaller but not gallon in my area. This site has so many different kinds of bottles. I saw many uses. Look at the bottom of their home page - they have Martha Stewart using their bottles for many entertaining ideas.

Curbly - is a site I just started exploring. But have found some interesting articles on it. From the about section: "Curbly is a Web community for people who love where they live. Curbly is the best place to share pictures of your home, find design ideas, and get expert home-improvement advice."

How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others - this was geared towards creative types but I think it really works for everyone. It is such a hard thing to conquer at times the comparison game. And although it might seem like a strange link to put here I think we can get caught up it in service - all types of service.

Making your Own Reusable Swiffer Dusters and Mop Covers - a little tutorial on how to do make them

Cooking Light Taco Party Menu - menu includes Blackberry Margaritas,Baked Black Beans with Chorizo, Flank Steak Tacos, Chimichurri Halibut Tacos, Cabbage Slaw, Grilled Pineapple-Avocado Salsa, Pineapple-Mint Sangria Sorbet - so many good recipes and a taco party is great for entertaining

Lemonade Days

I know I just posted yesterday, but today I found a fantastic recipe I wanted to share!

Lemonade is one of my favorite summertime treats. Whether I make my own or buy it at the store, there is nothing as refreshing as lemonade to me. Here is a recipe I've had for years for lemonade:

* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 1 1/2 cups of water
* 1 tbsp grated lemon peel
* 1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice (about 8-10 lemons)


In a small saucepan, stir together sugar, water and lemon peel. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring and then remove from heat.

Stir in lemon juice.

Add mixture to 9 cups cold water.


Today while reading my Real Simple Magazine, I came across this recipe for Hibiscus Mint Lemonade. Since I grow fresh mint in my garden, and it has grown out of control this summer, I scooted out the back door and picked some to try this with.

Here's the recipe:

4 Hibiscus tea bags (like Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger, which I love!)
2 cups fresh mint leaves (this is a lot of mint, just fyi)
2 cups boiling water
2 1/2 cups lemonade

Steep mint leaves and tea bags in the 2 cups boiling water. Pour into a pitcher, straining out the tea bags and mint leaves. Add lemonade and chill. Serve over ice. Garnish with additional sprigs of mint.

There are other recipes on the Real Simple website as well!

Summer Time BBQ and other Tips

Happy 4th of July to those of you in the U.S.!

I love the 4th of July. I love fireworks, grilling, and displaying my patriotism! I thought I would share with you my favorite grilling recipes and some tips on displaying your American Flags!

The photo above I took at the fireworks display near my house over the weekend. It was my first time photographing fireworks and I learned a lot! Next time the photos will be even better!

Grilled Corn:

Ears of Corn, shucked and cleaned
Aluminum Foil

Shuck and clean the corn, having a small vegetable brush makes it easier to get the silk off the corn. Wash it, but don't dry too much of the water off of it, otherwise it will burn. Wrap ears in foil. Sir likes me to twist the ends into points and bend them in opposite directions so that when he grills he can keep track of how often he has turned them, also it helps keep the corn from rolling around.

Grill over direct heat for 30-50 minutes depending on the amount of charring you want. Also, if you are grilling chicken at the same time, and have a small grill, you may have to move the corn to indirect heat for about 15 minutes. If you don't want any charring at all, then grill entirely over indirect heat.

These times are for a charcoal grill. Times for gas are going different!!


BBQ Cola Chicken

I LOVE LOVE LOVE mixing BBQ Sauce and Cola!

1 Cup Cola (I prefer Pepsi)
1/2 Cup BBQ Sauce (I like sweeter BBQ sauces with this, like Jack Daniel's Hickory Brown Sugar or Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory Brown Sugar or if you can get it Montgomery Inn Barbeque Sauce).
1 1/2 chicken legs or thighs or hindquarters (I find dark meat grills better and moister)

Mix Cola and BBQ sauce in a small saucepan and heat over low heat until heated through. Reserve a small amount to serve with the chicken (1/2-3/4 cup).

Heat grill. Place chicken over direct heat for 15 minutes, turn about halfway through. If it's starting to char to much, adjust the time accordingly. When we have a really hot grill, it only takes about 12 minutes.

Remove to indirect heat for 25-30 minutes, turning occasionally and basting with BBQ sauce the last 15 minutes.


Flag Etiquette

* Fly only clean flags in good condition
* Fly the flag only during the day unless you have your flag pole lit for nighttime use
* Do not fly your flag in the rain
* Do not use your flag for anything but a flag
* Do not let your flag touch the ground